Reverend Matthew Thekkekara

Reverend Matthew Thekkekara, 73, (brother of Rev. Antony Thekkekara) a Salesian of Don Bosco (SDB) of the Salesian Province of Sacred Heart, Bangalore, India, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 at Mamma Margaret Home, Aluva, India.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding, NE with Rev. Antony Thekkekara officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Matthew, the seventh of eleven children born to Varkey and Mariam Thekkekara, was born May 9, 1947 at Kozhippilly, Kerala. When he was in the seventh grade, he joined an apostolic school and graduated from Don Bosco Higher Secondary school, Tirupattur in 1966.  He entered, The Retreat, Yearcaud for his Novitiate and Philosophy.  Matthew made his First Profession on May 24, 1967 and graduated in Philosophy in 1969.  He studied his Batchelor's degree in Arts from Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur and graduated in 1972.  Fr. Matthew also taught his brother Fr. Antony in seminary.

His other assignments are:

24/06/1972 - 23/05/1974 St. Bede`s- Madras: Practical Training

24/06/1977 - 23/05/1978 The Retreat Yercaud: Teacher

24/07/1978 - 23/06/1982 Testaccio, Rome: Licentiate in Sacred Scripture

24/07/1982 - 23/08/1989 Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore: Professor

24/09/1989 - 23/05/1993 OudHeverlee SalesianenVan, DB Belgium: Student

24/06/1993 - 23/05/1994 Mount Don Bosco Kotagiri: Teacher

24/05/1994 - 23/03/1999 Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore: Professor/ Doctorate

24/06/1999 - 24/05/2010 Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore: Professor/Librarian

24/05/2010 - 20/01/2014 USA: Pastoral Ministry

20/01/2014 - : Mamma Margaret Home, Aluva

He is survived by two brothers: Francis (Philo) Thekkekara of Kozhippilly, Kerala and Fr. Antony Thekkekara of Spalding, NE; two sisters: Sr. Marius SJC and Gracy (Thomas) Mekkunnel of Pyngotoor, Kerala; three sisters in law: Mary Emmannuel, Chinnamma Jose and Baby Paulose; one brother in law, Varghese Chittuparambil;  22 nieces and nephews, 39 great-nieces and nephews, two great great-nephews, cousins, many special friends, his brother priests and religious students.

Fr. Mathew was preceded in death by his parents Varkey and Marium Thekkekara; four of his brothers and a sister-in-law: Chakkunny (Rose) Thekkekara, Emmanuel Thekkekara, Jose Thekkekara; Paulose Thekkekara and two sisters, Mary Chittooparambil and Sr. Jovita.